Biota Neotropica 18(3): e20170503, 2018 www.scielo.br/bn ISSN 1676-0611 (online edition) Article Diagnosis, presence of endoparasites, and local knowledge on the infestation of the exotic giant African snail (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), in the urban zone of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil Marcos Silva de Lima1* & Edson Guilherme2 1Universidade Federal do Acre, Centro de Ciências Biológicas e da Natureza, Curso de Licenciatura em Ciências Biológicas, BR 364, Km 04, Distrito industrial, CEP: 69.920-900, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil 2Universidade Federal do Acre, Laboratório de Ornitologia, BR 364, Km 04, Distrito industrial, CEP: 69.920-900, Rio Branco, AC, Brasil *Corresponding author: Marcos Silva de Lima, e-mail:
[email protected] LIMA, M.S., GUILHERME, E. Diagnosis, presence of endoparasites, and local knowledge on the infestation of the exotic giant African snail (gastropoda: pulmonata: achatinidae), in the urban zone of Rio Branco, Acre, Brazil. Biota Neotropica. 18(3): e20170503. http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/1676-0611-BN-2017-0503 Abstract: The giant African land snail, Lissachatina fulica is considered to be one of the world’s worst invader species. This snail can provoke major economic and public health problems in urban areas, in particular as a potential vector of nematodes that infect both humans and animals. In this context, the present study investigated the extent of the infestation of this exotic snail in the urban neighborhoods of the city of Rio Branco, verified the presence of endoparasites in these snails, and evaluated the knowledge of local residents with regard to the presence of this invader species.